Hey All-
Here's the big exciting update you've all been waiting for!!
I was finally able to get at tour with a MassDOT engineer to get busway-level shots and to ask some questions about the project. It was very exciting to finally able to get some answers, and learn some new things about the project that I did not know.
My apologizes for a delay on getting these to you, as they were taken last Thursday (4/20). I've just been so busy with my new job and I had to do an extra special job (like I actually edited the photos for once) on the photos. Plus there was so many photos to go through, as I took 668 photos in total, and was able to pair them down 207 photos. So alot of photos to edit and write descriptions for!
Much like last time, the project is chugging along. As I said in previous posts about this tour, I was mistaken about the opening. The end of the construction is March 2018. Service should begin, after initial testing of the busway, shortly after. So the website, which does say "Opening Spring 2018" is correct.
As I said above, it's only slightly delayed now (opening Fall 2017 as original estimated), but they've added several Phase II things to Phase I, plus the engineer says the MBTA is waiting for the buses that are being referbished in Maine to provide the additional service to Chelsea from South Boston.
But it's coming along. Today it appears they were primarily putting the caps on the retaining walls for the shared use path (and a small wall near the Washington Ave bridge) along with working on the outbound concrete canopy at Bellingham Square Station.
If you'd like to see the previous photo sets they can be found here by clicking on the links below:
Pics from 4/25/15
Pics from 6/20/15
Pics from 8/1/15
Pics from 9/19/15
Pics from 10/31/15
Pics from 1/9/16
Pics from 3/12/16
Pics from 4/16/16
Pics from 5/15/16
Pics from 6/26/16
Pics from 8/13/16
Pics from 10/5/16
Pics from 11/10/16
Pics from 12/14/16
Pics from 2/2/17
Pics from 3/23/17
And if you'd like to see the ALL of NEW photos, you can click
here
Now for the highlights.. but I do urge you to look at the full photo set of 207 photos, as I'm only giving you a small taste of the photos here!
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Here's a close up of the outbound canopy at Eastern Ave Station. Electrical rough in is done, and ground should be final graded for turn around loop. One thing to note that the engineer did say is that the ground at all the bus stations and crossings will not be asphalt, but rather concrete. The busway outside of the stations and crossings will be asphalt though!
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Looking toward the Cottage Street crossing from Eastern Ave Station with the shared use path on the otherside of the jersey barriers.
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Looking toward Box District Station at the Bellingham Street Bridge. In this photo grading of the shared use path is being done, new jersey barrier, and the rough-ins for lighting under the bridge is being done. The project will have extensive lighting along the paths and busway, under bridges, and around stations.
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Here's looking back at the Bellingham Street Bridge with Box District Station behind me. The shared use path on the right is all graded and jersey barries will be going in soon, along with lighting.
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Another look at the finished grading of the Shared Use path and the retaining wall, looking toward Box District Station
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Here's looking toward Box District Station. Library Street is on my left, and Griffin Way is on my right. What's interested, and not apart of the plans that I have that is being built is... The curbing there on the right of the busway (starting at Griffin Way) will be an additional sidewalk (along with the shared use path on the left side of the busway) that will provide pedestrian access from Box District Station to Griffin way. A fence will go up along Library street at the shared use path to prevent people from crossing at Library Street and force them to use the pedestrian sidewalk. (this was a mitigation thing from the community meetings from workers who work along Griffin Way and use Library as a shortcut from the 111 bus)
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Another look at the new pedestrian walkway on the rightside of the busway connecting Box District Station to Griffin Way
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A look back at the Bellingham Street Bridge with the end of the new pedistrian walkway at Griffin Way. (With Library street on the right)
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Looking at Box District Station. The dip in the curbing is where the crossover will be to connect Highland Ave and Box District Station to the walkway to Griffin Way
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Electrical conduit rough in work at Box District Station. All stations will have fare boxes, lighting, security cameras. The entire project will also have security cameras mounted on top of most of the light poles along the project. It will be well secured.
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Box District Station from the busway looking toward the Bellingham Street bridge. Shared use path will be on the right.
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Looking toward the Broadway bridge and the retaining wall for the shared use path. Notice the signal for the bi-directional lane that goes under the bridge (since it is too narrow for two buses to simultaneously go under the bridge at the same time)
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A look back at Box District Station with the nearly finished retaining wall on the right
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A closer look at the new bi-direction signal at the Broadway Bridge
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The old retaining wall for the Broadway Bridge, meets the new retaining wall for the shared use path
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A look back at the Broadway Bridge and it's bi-directional lane (from the otherside of the bridge)
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A look toward the Washington Ave Bridge (with the Broadway Bridge behind me)
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A look at the forms for the tops of the small retaining wall near the Washington Ave Bridge being built
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Another look back at the Broadway Bridge from the Washington Ave Bridge (directly behind me)
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Here's where a series of ramps that will be built that will connect the inbound side of Bellingham Square Station to Washington Ave (for connections to the 111 and the square itself). This was a Phase II item that was moved to Phase I, and should be built by the fall or early winter. (It's in design currently)
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The concrete forms for canopies on the outbound side of Bellingham Square Station
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Another look at the concrete forms for the canopies on the outbound side of Bellingham Square Station as seen from the Arlington @ Sixth Street crossing
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Heres looking toward the Spruce Street crossing with Route 1's overpass behind me (and Arlington @ Sixth Crossing beyond that)
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A look back at the Route 1 overpass as seen from the busway near Spruce Street
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Here's looking at a missing jersey barrier, but better yet.. the new BRT signals for the crossing at Spruce Street. There's a reason why there's a third pole, but the engineer could not explain for what (I honestly forgot to ask, but it's in a series of follow up questions I have for him). He did also say the signals will be in sync with the railroad signals, so the buses can continue to travel on the busway when the railroad signals are down (and the lights will activate when the railroad signals are going down also)
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Looking toward Everett Ave and Chelsea Station with Spruce Street behind me
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The Everett Ave Crossing with Chelsea Station behind it. Note the new signal poles for the crossing here. And much like Spruce Street, there's a reason for the third pole, which will happen in Phase II. I will try to get clairfication on this.
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The outbound (drop off side) of Chelsea Station with its nearly finished baffles and glass. This entire area is being graded in these photos in preparation for the roadbed. (this site was recently cleaned up, as it had been a storage area)
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A look at the inbound side of Chelsea Station
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A look at the outbound side of Chelsea Station with Everett Ave behind it
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In the background they are constructing the footings for a "Comfort Station" (aka a bathroom) at Chelsea Station. I was kind of surprised when he told me that but it makes sense(mainly for the drivers since this will be where they will layover). I'm going to assume it's going to be locked and not open to the public unless you ask a MBTA employee to unlock it for you). (I sure hope not)
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Post Walk Thru: The forms going up at the high retaining wall at the Broadway Bridge at the Shared Use Path that will connect Broadway to Chestnut Street
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Post Walk Thru: And finally, I did ask what this box was being constructed in the middle of shared use path. Apparently it's for Eversource (for some power thing that was moved)
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That's all for now. And I hope so.. that was a long update. There's a TON more pictures
in the album, so please go take a look!
Next update (regular update as normal as seen from public ways) probably after Memorial Day. But I might take a quickie update once the light poles are installed along the project.
I'm going to try to shoot for another "Special Edition" sometime in the late summer or early fall (and again near opening).. as time permits with work (I would have to ask for a weekday morning off to do this again). But I promise, there will be another one, I was promised by who was able to get this arranged with MassDOT that I would have access to get a tour if I wanted again. So yes. There will be more of these!
Let me know what you think!!
PS - I am VERY busy at work during the day so I may not see replies until this evening, but I will reply to folks as soon as I can!!
(too busy at work to pay attention to social media)